****OFFICIAL TED KENNEDY ENDORSEMENT THREAD 2 ****

We all say what happened, and the effect his endorsement had on Dean's candidacy.

He was the previous Democratic nominee 4 years ago, you can't be a bigger celebrity than that.

Ever since Inconveniant Truth, he has hit stardom.

are a lot more attentive when Obama speaks. You could hear a pin drop in the room.

He is inspiring the American People to believe that "WE" can make a difference. Billary is more about "ME" and what she can do for America. Obama knows he can't do it alone and is building a grassroots movement to help him make the changes we so desperately need. I for one am totally on board with Obama.

:hi:

Reminding us all that we can be what we should be - that the past 8 years will one day just be a bad dream.

I am not a supporter of Obama, but damn he knows how to speak.

It is a hope is alive moment! I haven't cried after hearing anyone speak in years!

I was alive when JFK and RFK were alive and remember both of them very well. The dream is still alive! :D :D :D

and shaking her head in disbelief.

Those are tears of wonder,tears of hope, tears of joy.

I'm crying too for the same reasons.


THIS experience is what America should be about ~ it's the face that we want to present to the World.

Not just because of OBAMA,it is the passing of the torch by the Kennedy family.

...same reaction. We remember the hope...and the possibility.

I'm stuck on a computer, no TV, no access to streaming video.

I just want to hug everyone!! :hug: :hug: :grouphug: :hug: :hug:

...to you. I'm sure it will be replayed. Best TV in a long time. :)

:hug:

:-)

If we do seize the moment, we'll take back the WH and the open Congressional seats!

"Come, my friend: 'tis not too late to seek a newer world." -- Tennyson

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4245665&mesg_id=4245665

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/9/30/102745/165/500/153069

It's a great explanation of his political tactics. Here's one of his thoughts:

"A polarized electorate that is turned off of politics, and easily dismisses both parties because of the nasty, dishonest tone of the debate, works perfectly well for those who seek to chip away at the very idea of government because, in the end, a cynical electorate is a selfish electorate.

the link. I had not read the post at D-kos.

It was wonderful to see the Old Lion delivering the word today. And today's younger Kennedys, as well as this powerful young man named Obama. It reminds me of Ted's brothers, and of Martin quoting the poet: "Truth crushed to earth will rise again!"

WOW - this is great stuff. :applause:

I'm not into the cosmic side of things, but that's about as close to destiny as you can get.

:hi:

Honoring his elders as he needed to ~ I'm so happy he did!

and beautifully tying past and future together. just amazing.

quite amazing.

I cant even begin to express the hope it brings me that our dark days are finaly over.

will they be held accountable.

on issues from his speeches however. In any case, congrats are in order for him today.

The details are on his website, and this post on dkos from 2 years ago might help:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=4245665&mesg_id=4245665

Remember to inform yourself and make up your own mind.

:hi:

It seems tasty while I'm eating it, but an hour later, I can't remember what it was I liked about it. Plus, I find I'm still hungry.

More and more people every day. :bounce:

http://www.barackobama.com/issues/

Obama, like many successful politicians, has made a decision to forgo the details of policy proposals in his speeches, preferring to talk of his grand vision rather than policy-wonk specifics. But that doesn't mean they don't exist.

:applause: :applause: :applause:

I think that was a very significant event!!

I only was able to catch the live stream from when Obama started speaking. I missed the Kennedy section completely. :( I'd love to be able to watch the event in its entirety later today.

I wondered if the Kennedys routinely said the kinds of things they did about Obama in their endorsements of past presidential contenders. I found a video of Kennedy endorsing Kerry in 2004 and while it was a strong endorsement, it wasn't quite so personal. For them to compare Barack Obama to JFK the way that they did over and over and those speeches, and as a family, that is a very powerful endorsement. It says alot to me about the quality and character of Barack Obama that the Kennedys would hold him in such high regard as a potential president.

Movement.

I feel as though Edwards wants to bring the Party back to it's roots (which I support) and Obama wants to take the "Nation" in a new direction, which is appealing for many reasons.

Can Edwards bring us back to what sets Democrats apart from Republicans?

Can Obama transcend "politics?" Can he inspire a nation, so much so, that we never turn back to politics as usual?

Yep, torn ...


Edited for grammar.

That could push him to be an even better, more progressive, reform minded president than even he might be inclined to be. That momentum is simply not there with John Edwards and there is no reason to believe it is going to happen, even though, on the merits of their stances on the issues, I tend to agree with you that Edwards is a more attractive candidate.

I don't dislike any of the candidates, but I am leaning Obama. I think we need to take a home run swing at a transformative, reconstructive presidency and Obama might be the best chance we have had in 75 years. Hillary Clinton is a preemptive, Third Way type who if she wins, will do so narrowly, will not inspire the type of turnout among young voters that has the potential to sweep in a large working progressive Democratic majority. Furthermore, she will be beholden to insiders, PAC's and lobbyists. Obama will be beholden to this movement that he has mobilized. I want the momentum to continue. If Hillary is the nominee, she may win and perform as effectively as one could hope under the circumstances, but she will not be a paradigm changer. She's a skillful operator who is likely to measure success in terms of her ability to fight off the right-wing agenda and their onslaught of attacks. She'll never have the potential to just overwhelm them riding a wave that represents a mandate for change.

If he could, John Edwards would probably be even more progressive than Obama, but he doesn't have the momentum behind him to make change happen. It doesn't taint a social movement's progressive potential if it is based on affect and inspiration from a charismatic leader as much as it is on the merits (as long as it's still solid on the merits). That's the way change has happened throughout history.

Thank you.

anycase it is not bad. My opinion is that the Clintons have made an intelligent dialogue of the issues impossible.

If Edwards could "insert" some of the agenda into to the Obama momentum, I'd be happy. ;)

I know Obama says he wants to "transcend politics." Perhaps his manner of communicating/inspiring can "sell" our vision/message as progressives to the nation at large?

it's almost a guarantee that some of Edwards' economic policy will make it onto a national Democratic platform.

This is *if* (and that's a big "if") there is no clear nominee by the time the convention rolls around and Edwards has managed to accumulate enough delegates to put either Clinton or Obama over the top. He has to hit that 15% threshold, which is why I'm voting for him on Super Tuesday.

You're absolutely correct. Obama does an excellent job of selling some of Edwards' message. Here's hoping he can sell corporate accountability as well as he does this ethics and lobbyist reform.

:hi:

vote, what they are looking for in a candidate, and don't really care. I hate the media, hate the talking heads, but tuned in to see this, and I am so glad I did. For a short time, my cynicism left me, and a teensy bit of pure, dare I say hope, filled me up, and the ugliness of this primary season was momentarily suspended.

We're gonna get the votes we need and we're gonna win this thing. And you know what I'm gonna do after that, I mean that very night, I'm gonna go to Sam & Harry's, I'm gonna order a big steak, and I'm gonna make a list of everybody who tried to fuck us this week.

have cinched it for Sen. Obama! :woohoo: :toast:


:dem:

:bounce:

What I really hope the endorsements help America to realize that
"the old style politics of race baiting etc. doesn't work."

That would be the CHANGE that we need.